Zulum Declares Monday Day Of Fasting, Prayer In Borno As Attacks Spread Across Nigeria

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has asked residents to set aside next Monday as a day of fasting and prayer, urging them to seek peace for both the state and the country.

He made the announcement in a state broadcast aired on Saturday. His call comes at a troubling moment for Nigeria, with recent attacks on schools and religious centres adding to public anxiety.

In Kwara, schools in four local government areas were shut after gunmen attacked a church, killing two worshippers and abducting several others.

Kebbi also suffered a devastating blow when 25 girls were taken from a boarding school in Maga and a vice-principal was killed. Niger State has been grappling with the shock of a mass abduction in which at least 303 children and 12 teachers were seized from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri.

Addressing Borno residents, Zulum said he was speaking “not just your governor but a fellow citizen with a profound sense of patriotism,” urging people to stay united and not allow fear to break their resolve.

“For the past 15 years, Borno State has been in the global spotlight owing to the Boko Haram insurgency. This affected every segment of our society, displacing millions of people and disrupting livelihoods,” he said.

He praised residents for remaining resilient and for backing the security agencies during the height of the insurgency.

“By the will of God, we were able to overcome those harrowing days of insurgency by uniting as one, settling aside differences of ethnicity, religion and sectionalism. We rallied behind our armed forces and other security agencies to confront the common enemy, whose aim was to destabilise our state, the Northeast and the nation as a whole,” he added.

Zulum noted that the improved security situation has transformed farming activities this year. According to him, “the relative peace attained in the state has contributed to a promising harvest for this year’s farming season. Farmers have been able to cultivate their crops that are expected to sustain them for the next one to two years.”

While admitting that there have been isolated attacks, he encouraged residents not to lose hope. “Your resilience has been a source of inspiration and strength to me and to the entire administration. As people of faith, we believe our security strategies must be underpinned by prayers,” he said.

The governor then declared the statewide observance, saying, “I hereby declare Monday, 24th November 2025, as a statewide day of fasting and prayer for the restoration of peace in Borno State and the country in general.

“On this day, I call upon every resident of Borno State, regardless of faith, to join in prayer for the lasting peace and prosperity of our beloved state and Nigeria. Consequently, let us therefore devote ourselves to constant prayers, seeking Almighty God’s mercy.”

He assured residents that his administration will continue to support security forces, strengthen community vigilance and explore dialogue where possible, without compromising public safety.

This marks the second time this year Zulum has declared a statewide day of fasting and prayer, following a similar observance in May, which he led in Rann, one of the communities hit hardest by Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks.